SkyDrive, a Japanese eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle maker, has taken a significant step towards entering the U.S. market by submitting a type certification application to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its three-seat electric aerial vehicle (EAV).
The application was filed through Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), marking a key milestone in SkyDrive’s certification process.
See also: SkyDrive Secures Major Pre-Order of SKYDRIVE eVTOLs from South Korea
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, expressed gratitude for the support from the JCAB and the FAA, stating, “This collaboration allows us to advance our certification processes in both Japan and the United States simultaneously. With the FAA’s experience in the certification process of several eVTOLs and the JCAB already advancing the certification of our aircraft, we aim to work together to create a future where our eVTOL can operate commercially around the world.”
SkyDrive aims to obtain FAA type certification along with its expected JCAB type certification in 2026 or later. The company has also established a strategic alliance with Volatus Infrastructure and has been working on an advanced mobility infrastructure in South Carolina, where SkyDrive plans to operate its EAVs.
See also: SkyDrive Secures Second Major eVTOL Pre-Order in Vietnam, Totaling 200 Units
In addition to its U.S. endeavors, SkyDrive recently agreed to sell five of its flying vehicles to a private charter service operator in Augusta, Georgia, marking its expansion beyond South Carolina into Georgia. The company intends to establish an EAV air taxi network connecting Augusta Regional Airport to destinations across the region.
SkyDrive has started production of its flying vehicle at a Suzuki manufacturing plant in Shizuoka, Japan, with the capability to produce 100 of the three-seater EAVs per year. The company has also partnered with the Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) to develop high-speed charging facilities for EAVs, with the first station planned for this year.
